Something happened today when I wanted to take wudu’ at the usual toilet. I met with some of my TEASLIAN students in the toilet. Since all of the cubicles were full, I proceed to pick up the mop inside the tiny storeroom. Well, the floor was dirty with foot prints and whatsnot. I cleaned the toilet yesterday’s afternoon before I left but as expected, it was dirty today.
Some of them were disbelieved seeing me holding the mop and starting to clean the floor. Babes, it is normal ok for me to do that. I use the toilet so, when I see it dirty, I clean it. There are no cleaners to do the cleaning. Nope. Sigh.
If you walk around, you can hardly see cleaners nowadays. When I went to my alma mater last two weeks, I met with some cleaners at Human Sciences cafe. Apparently, they are assigned to pick up empty plates and cups from the table. This is not a common sight at UTM SUB cafe.
I can guess some of them are started to feel guilty seeing me mopping the floor. Yup. Some of them didn’t even dare to enter the toilet after being forewarned by others that I was cleaning the toilet. What a sight to remember for the rest of their lives to see someone who teaches them to clean the toilet! (tongue in cheek remark).
Well, I told them due to limited budget, there are no more cleaners to clean the toilets. I have seen a cleaner cleaning the toilet nearby the Chair’s office though (I know right. It is such a double standard. We have to clean toilets ourselves and those within the vicinity of those with administration position has someone else to do the cleaning). Well, that is not the point that I want to make.
I remember what my late mom taught me. If you can do it, do it silently. Don’t complain. When I am writing this post, I am not complaining. It is just to make others know that it is a common practice now to clean toilets at UTM even though we are the academicians. Well, we use the toilets as well. So, no need to feel entitled that we are better than others to avoid doing the dirty works, right?
Note: To all of my students, don’t be shocked to see me cleaning the toilet. Don’t feel guilty. After all, I am also using the toilet. If you feel guilty, perhaps you can do your part as well 😀 Wait until you be a teacher at a school with limited budget. You will see yourself doing the cleaning too. What a heck! Japanese teachers and students have long make it in their practice to do the cleaning TOGETHER. So, why don’t we do the same, right?
